The Love of Christ

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The Love of Christ

We all have a lot of things  that control us.     The need for food,  shelter  and clothing encourage us  to get a job.     Our need for recreation and rest  lead us  to provide for those needs.     The need  for an education controls our choices and efforts  in that area.    We could even get  into the nitty-gritty  of piled up laundry  controlling our need to wash clothes.     Our desire  to not land in jail  can control how we drive our vehicles,  how we respect the property of others,  and how we respect the rights  of others.

When all is said and done,  we all live  with a lot of controls.     Usually we accept all  of these  as a part of life.     But,  there is a much better motivator.     Paul had to describe his motivation  in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15,

For the love of Christ  controls us,  having concluded this,  that one died  for all,  therefore all died;  and He died  for all,  that they who live  should no longer live  for themselves,  but for Him  who died and rose again  on their behalf.

Christian behavior is controlled  by the suffering,  death,  and resurrection of Jesus Christ.     When we are tempted  in any way,  we think about how greatly  God has loved us  in Christ.     We see  that we are sinners,  who deserve nothing but the pains of hell,  and yet,  in  “the love of Christ”  we have been set free.     We are freely  given  forgiveness and all the glories  of eternal life,  all because we believe  what God has done for us  in Christ.     Remembering this  controls our lives.

Remembering  “the love of Christ”  suffering and being horrifically tortured — just because He loves us — controls our behavior  towards Him.     We don’t want  to abuse the One  who loves us.     We want and need  to be loved.     And there is no better love  than the love  of our Creator and Redeemer.

That is why Paul was urging the Corinthian Christians  to remember the love and grace  that was extended to them.     We have that very same love and grace extended  to us.     Are we going to remember  how and why it was extended  to even us?     When we do  rightly remember,  it will control our living.

All of this is a gift  from God.     A gift.

Let us accept this gift  of love  and let  “the love of Christ”  control our living.     Then,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  Your love does so many things  for us.     We need Your love  to control us.     Thank You for leading us  to remember Your love,  so that it may lead us  to eternal life.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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